External humeral epicondylitis is a commonly encoun-tered chronic injury of the elbow due to long-term repeat-ed traction injury of the attaching area of the external hu-meral epicondyle extensor. The clinical manifestations are pain in the external humeral epicondyle, aggravation in forceful stretching of the wrist to the dorsal side and local tenderness. This problem pertains to the conceptions of elbow sprain and obstructive syndrome in TCM due to strain and invasion of pathogenic wind, cold and dampness that lead to unsmooth circulation of qi and blood in the lo-cal meridians.
Syndrome differentiation
Slow onset, aching pain in the lateral side of the elbow radiating to the forearm or shoulder and back, weakness in grasping, aggravation in performing the ac- tivities like twisting towel and local tenderness.
Treatment
Prescription: Ashi, Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10) and Hegu (LI 4).
Performance: Each time 1 - 2 acupoints on the yang-ming meridian of the hand are selected and needled with reducing needling technique. Moxibustion can be applied to the local area. The needles are retained for 20 - 30 minutes.
